Mehmood, the prime suspect was arrested at the Torkham border while attempting to flee to Afghanistan. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Anwar Zaheer Jamali on Wednesday took notice of the murder of Barrister Fahad Malik.
Taking notice of the incident, the CJP has sought a report from the inspector general of the Islamabad Police within a week.
The notice was taken on a note from the SC registrar containing details of the firing incident in which Malik was killed on August 15.
It further stated that the incident could have been averted if the vehicles had been checked and searched by the police.
Moreover, when the police saw that the two parties were antagonistic towards each other, they should have anticipated a breach of peace and should have taken all precautionary measures in order to avert a clash between them, said a press release from the top court.
On account of the lethargic attitude of the police department, one of the suspect initially succeeded in obtaining interim bail from a district and sessions court, which has now been cancelled and he has been handed over to the police on physical remand.
It adds that the lack of proper security by the administration constitutes violation of fundamental right to life and liberty.
ATC extends remand
Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) sent Noman Khokhar one of the suspects on physical remand for five days.
Judge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi remanded Khokhar to the police after he was produced before the court on the expiry of three-day remand.
He was arrested after an Islamabad sessions court dismissed his bail-before-arrest for failing to cooperate with police investigators. He was arrested outside the courtroom.
The Shalimar police had booked Raja Arshad Mehmood, Noman Khokhar and eight others in the murder of Malik, a nephew of former Senate chairman Mohammadmian Soomro.
Mehmood, the prime suspect was arrested at the Torkham border while attempting to flee to Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the chargesheet filed against the suspects lists 15 witnesses, but contrary to some reports, no CCTV footage is available as the incident took place at a long distance from Safe City Project cameras. Other recordings of the suspects passing along routes where the cameras are located have, however, been included to show the time of their movement through these areas.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2016.
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